to encourage its youth to take part more in organised sports, the City of Rotterdam has put together several programs for different age groups, including Challenge 010 for youth from 12 to 17.

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This programme challenges the youth to become the best schoolteam in sports like futsal, baseball, basketball or dance. By participating in this intensive form of team sport, students not only get health benefits, but often shift their personal boundaries. Let’s take a deeper look at this great initiative from the City of Rotterdam.

What benefits does Challenge 010 bring to the students?

Research demonstrates that sport participation contributes to the personal development and school career of young people. With its program, Challenge010 offers the opportunity to students to participate in sports on a regular basis, at school or in a sports club.

It has been shown that Rotterdam students participating in Challenge010  increase their self-esteem, and learn to deal with winning and losing as well as the meaning of cooperation.

The students also develop their sense of pride, by playing in a uniform with the colors of their school, and by participating in the Challenge010 team they also become a member of a sports club, which encourages them to practice sport on a regular basis.

How is the Challenge 010 programme organised?

The teams are coached by a school teacher or by a professional trainer from the club club. The trainings are organised by topclubs playing on the highest level and given by a professional trainer from those clubs. During their training, they give the participants good tips and much attention is given to improvement in order to reach a positive outcome.

Challenge010 is a partnership between Rotterdam Sportsupport, Rotterdam schools in secondary education, sports clubs and sports federations. Rotterdam Sportsupport coordinates the project with a three party team – a team leader and two project coordinators. To organise each sport, a collaboration is established with the coordinator of the top sports club of the sport.

The coordinators of the projects and the clubs are in close contact with the schools, in order to get the best results. The coordinators for each sport have all been top athletes so the students can easily identify and look up to them. In addition, educational instructors (pedagogues) are also connected to the project.

What are the results of the programme so far?

Young people participating in Challenge010 have gained many benefits. It has been shown that they enjoy more attending school and practicing sports. Also, it has been proven that in general, the majority of students show better behaviour at school and increased self-confidence through their participation. This is evidenced by research from Utrecht University into the second year of the Challenge010 project.

Challenge 010 is definitely a great success for the City of Rotterdam. Results show that participating students have not only gotten the health benefits that come with the regular practice of sports, but they have gained benefits that are crucial for their personal and professional development. The success of the programme is linked to a great coordination between actors from the City of Rotterdam, the education system as well as sports federations and clubs – it can definitely serve as an inspiration for any city that wishes to get its youth moving.